Pull Apart Bread is absolutely irresistible. Made with just a handful of ingredients, you will make this every single time that you have guests over.
I am such a sucker for pull apart bread. That is probably why I have recipes for it in so many different flavors. But this original is hands down my favorite. The last time I made it, one of my kids exclaimed, “This is like garlic bread but so much better!”
They are not wrong. This bread recipe is buttery, garlicky, and delicious with melty cheese. There are so many things to love about this delicious recipe.
How to Make Pull Apart Bread
Here is a brief overview of how this delicious pull apart garlic bread comes together. For the full recipe including all measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Cut the bread. Use a sharp knife to cut the bread diagonally, cutting down most of the bread, but not all the way through. See the photos below.
- Make the butter mixture. Melt the butter in a small bowl and whisk in the garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Brush the butter mixture into the cracks of the cut bread, saving some for the end.
- Add the cheese. Mix the cheeses together and push them into the bread. Brush the last of the salted butter mixture onto the top of the bread.
- Bake the bread. Cover loosely with aluminum foil, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted. Enjoy warm.
Best Bread for Pull Apart Bread
This recipe is made with a crusty artisan loaf of bread. Loaves with a harder crust and soft inside, like sourdough, are my favorite to use because they hold their shape and the cheesy filling. If you can’t find a crusty loaf at your bakery or grocery store, use a loaf of Italian bread or French bread. You will need to be a little more gentle as you stuff it, but it will work.
Cutting The Bread
When cutting your loaf to make cheesy garlic pull apart bread, the key is to cut into the bread without cutting all the way through. I recommend using a large, sharp serrated knife. This allows the cheese and garlic butter to soak into the bread but not fall out the bottom.
Cut the bread diagonally, then turn the loaf and cut diagonally again creating one-inch squares. See my photos above for how this should look.
Pro Tip: Shred Your Own Cheese
Cheese is a key ingredient in this pull apart bread recipe. In order to get the maximum gooey effect, I recommend that you buy a block of cheese and shred it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese is covered in preservatives that prevent it from clumping together in the bag. These preservatives also affect the taste of the cheese. Use clean hands to press the shredded cheese into the bread.
Making Ahead
If you want to make this cheesy garlic bread ahead of time, prepare the recipe up to the point of baking it. Cover it with foil and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, take it out of the fridge and bake according to the recipe directions, keeping the foil tented over top.
If you need to reheat pull apart cheese bread that has already been baked, pop it into a warm oven for just a few minutes with foil tented over the top so it doesn’t burn.
Tips for Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread
This is your too long, didn’t read section. Here are the key points for making sure this recipe turns out perfectly.
- Use a crusty bread. Read the section above on why a sturdy crusty bread works best for this recipe.
- Cut the bread properly. Use a serrated knife and make sure to make deep cuts in the bread without cutting all the way through the bottom. This will make it both easy to stuff and keep the loaf together.
- Use freshly shredded mozzarella cheese. As mentioned above, store-bought cheese is covered in preservatives that make it difficult for it to melt. Given that the cheesiness is half the joy of this recipe, lets enjoy it to it’s fullest!
- Skip fresh herbs. It is so tempting to use fresh herbs in recipes. However, if they are going in the oven, the freshness will be ruined by the high heat. You are far better off to use dried parsley here and then garnish with fresh parsley at the end.
- Stick to unsalted butter. Salt in butter varies from brand to brand. That is the reason that I call for unsalted butter in my recipes so the I can control the salt content. If you only have salted butter, then I suggest just adding 1/2 a teaspoon of kosher salt or 1/4 teaspoon table salt.
More Great Pull Apart Bread Recipes
If you make this pull apart cheese bread recipe or any of my other recipes, I’d love to hear what you think and would be so grateful if you came back and let me know!
Pull Apart Bread
Ingredients
- 16 ounces crusty artisan loaf (453.6 grams)
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (113 grams)
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (if using table salt use 1/2 teaspoon)
- dash black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded (169.5 grams)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese shredded (50 grams)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut the bread diagonally, cutting down most of the bread, but not all the way through. Turn around and repeat in the other direction. (See photos in the post.)16 ounces crusty artisan loaf
- Melt the butter and whisk in the garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Brush the butter mixture into the cracks of the cut bread. Save a small amount, about 2 tablespoons, for the end.8 tablespoons unsalted butter, 3 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, dash black pepper
- Mix the cheeses together and push them into the bread. Brush the final 2 tablespoons of the butter mixture onto the top of the bread.1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted. Serve immediately.
LEAVE A COMMENT